Flying Things

Braniff photos, the Cessna, and other aircraft oriented photos.

Vernon worked for Braniff for 26 plus years
 

Vernon's Passion

Vernon started flying lesson in his late teens.  He would take the bus downtown in Wichita Falls, transfer to the end of the line, walk about a mile over the hill to the airport and his Instructor (who was also a mechanic) would say it was too windy, come back another day if he was busy doing something else or didn't want to be bothered.  Dual time in a new Aeronca Champ in the early 50's was $8 an hour (both airplane and instructor).

Vernon worked for Piedmont & USAir for 15 years after Braniff folded

Vernon & Jim (also a pilot) had just taken this youngster for a flight

M759MA in flight with Vernon at the controls.
Vernon and his brother Jim flew IFR (with light rain) one wintery day to Temple, Texas.  They flew through the clouds with light rain and got on top.  When they radioed in (with it being broadcast on a loud speaker at the Temple Airport) everyone went outside to watch this Instrument Approach and Landing.  When they left the airport, once again everyone went outside to watch the departure.  Jim took the stick and before taking off said to Vernon "how do we get back on top?"

Vernon & Poncho arriving at Mesquite after their flight from Greensboro NC.
While Vernon was working in North Carolina, he worked on his Instrument Rating and passed it on the first go around with a red headed baroness as his check pilot.  An instructor/pilot friend of ours told me to expect it to take Vernon a little bit longer to obtain the Instrument Ticket since he was in his 50's.  Truth be told, Vernon got this rating in the minimum legal time.  WAY TO GO VERNON!!!

Vernon's Puddle Jumper - a Cessna 182 Skylane
Dad and Kathy flew up to see Greg and I at our lake place in Kentucky.  He radioed in ahead of time so we (Greg, me and the 3 old guys spittin' and chewin') were watching for them to come in.  There are hills in Kentucky.  Dad comes in way too fast and too high.  The old guys stood there calmly saying "He's too high, He's too fast".  So Dad makes the approach, then guns it and goes back around to come in a little slower and lower.  Story is better with my visuals showing you, so ask me about it.  I've got a ton more "horror" stories to go with it.  I think it warped me.

Vernon & Jim Hull's 1941 Aeronca Chief

The Aeronca Chief
I thought this was the plane that Dad would take us up in that did not have a door on my side, but found out it wasn't.  So, the plane without the door is not pictured here, but is burned in my memory.  Dad would sit in the back with me in the front (without a door) and whenever he would bank right, he would yell at me to "hold on to that bar up there Winky".